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As the hiring frenzy for cybersecurity professionals continues, Saint Leo’s new master's degree in cybersecurity prepares students for these in-demand careers.

Target. P.F. Chang. Neiman Marcus. Michaels. Sally Beauty.

The list of companies that have fallen victim to data breaches involving customers’ credit and debit accounts grows every day.

Private businesses are not the lone victims of cybercrime. Governments, health care, finance, law enforcement and academia all need information security professionals who can protect their organizations' data assets.

“Even the President of the United States has said that America’s economic prosperity in the 21st century depends on cybersecurity. But right now, there’s a critical shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals.”

According to Krishnan, that shortage was part of the reason for creating Saint Leo’s new Master of Science in Cybersecurity program. The 36-credit-hour program for information technology professionals is designed specifically to help meet this urgent need.

Is Saint Leo’s cybersecurity program right for you?

Anthony Cicanese is an enrollment counselor in Saint Leo’s Graduate Admissions Office*. He works with prospective students every day, answering their questions about the university’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity, which begins on-ground at University Campus with the Fall 2014 semester, and online with the Spring I term, which starts Jan. 5, 2015.

Here are five things he says make someone a good candidate for Saint Leo’s cybersecurity program.

1. You have been working in the information technology field.

Unlike the university’s MBA degree program, work experience is not a requirement for Saint Leo’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity. However, if you have been working in IT and your bachelor’s degree is in an unrelated discipline, your professional experience may help in meeting minimal prerequisite requirements.

2. You have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, management information systems, computer information systems, or a related area.

Since the Master of Science in Cybersecurity prepares graduates for initial placement in the information security field, as well as for mid-level positions, applicants may roll over directly from an undergraduate degree program in this graduate-level program.

3. You want to advance your IT or cybersecurity career.

If you’re an experienced professional, earning an advanced degree will enhance your skills and provide you with the deeper knowledge that will enable you to step up to the next level in your career. Saint Leo’s master’s degree in cybersecurity is also a good fit for professionals looking to pursue consulting work.

4. You have earned leading professional certifications in the cybersecurity field.

Even if your undergraduate degree is in an unrelated discipline, if you have any number of entry-level, advanced or specialized professional certifications under your belt, you have sufficient knowledge and experience to make you a strong candidate for Saint Leo’s program.

5. You have a deep understanding of the design, administration and management of operating systems and networks.

Saint Leo’s master’s degree program in cybersecurity is highly technical. If you already have strong foundational knowledge and skills, you may be well prepared for this rigorous and deep dive into the technical aspects of information security.

“I talk with IT professionals every day who are excited about this program, because it is highly technical and 100 percent focused on cybersecurity,” says Cicanese. “It meets their needs for career advancement, as well as the needs of more recent computer science grads looking at entering a field with outstanding job opportunities.”

* If you have any questions about Saint Leo’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity, you can reach out to the current graduate admissions counselors for this program, Keithy Tamanini at keith.tamanini@saintleo.edu or Rhet Rheinlander at rhet.rheinlander@saintleo.edu or call them at 800.707.8846.

Blog Comments

Kim

Impressive article! I will be forwarding this to several people that I know would be interested. Nice to see St. Leo is being proactive in paving the road for such an important growing profession. Mr. Cicanese appears to be a very professional and well educated counselor!

Mary Beth Erskine

Thanks for your comment, Kim, and for sharing the news about Saint Leo's new cybersecurity program. Please let folks know that they can call Anthony directly if they would like to find out more. The carefully designed combination of courses really makes it a unique program.